mother

The definition of a mother is a woman who gives birth or who has the responsibility of physical and emotional care for specific children.

An example of a mother is a woman who has just given birth to twins.

Mother

(born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) 1910-97; Rom. Catholic missionary in India, born in Skopje, Albania (now in the country Macedonia)

(1515-82); Sp. Carmelite nun: her day is Oct. 12

called Teresa of Ávi·la

mother

a woman who has borne a child; esp., a woman as she is related to her child or children

a stepmother

an adoptive mother

a mother-in-law

the female parent of an animal or plant

that which gives birth to something, is the origin or source of something, or nurtures in the manner of a mother

a woman having the responsibility and authority of a mother

mother superior: used esp. as a title

an elderly woman: used as a title of affectionate respect

Slang motherfucker: somewhat vulgar

Origin of mother

Middle English moder ; from Old English modor, akin to German mutter ; from Indo-European an unverified form matér, mother (from source Classical Latin mater, Classical Greek m?t?r, Old Irish m?thir) ; from an unverified form ma-, echoic of baby talk

of, like, or like that of a mother

derived or learned from or as if from one's mother; native: English is her mother tongue

designating a company, institution, etc. from which another or others originated: mother church

to be the mother of; give birth to: often used fig.

to look after or care for as a mother does

mother Idioms

the mother of all

something regarded as the biggest, most impressive, or most important of (its kind): often used humorously [the mother of all yard sales]

mother

mother of vinegar

Obs. dregs

Origin of mother

altered (infl. by mother) ; from Middle Dutch moeder, akin to Middle Low German modder: for Indo-European base see mud

mother

noun

a. A woman who gives birth to a child.

b. A woman whose egg unites with a sperm, producing an embryo.

c. A woman who adopts a child.

d. A woman who raises a child.

A female parent of an animal.

A female ancestor.

A woman who holds a position of authority or responsibility similar to that of a mother: a den mother.

Roman Catholic Church

a. A mother superior.

b. Used as a form of address for such a woman.

A woman who creates, originates, or founds something: “the discovery of radium, which made Marie Curie mother to the Atomic Age”(Alden Whitman).

A creative source; an origin: Philosophy is the mother of the sciences.

Used as a title for a woman respected for her wisdom and age.

Maternal love and tenderness: brought out the mother in her.

The biggest or most significant example of its kind: the mother of all battles.

Vulgar Slang Something considered extraordinary, as in disagreeableness, size, or intensity.

adjective

Relating to or being a mother.

Characteristic of a mother: mother love.

Being the source or origin: the mother church.

Derived from or as if from one's mother; native: one's mother language.

verb

moth·ered, moth·er·ing, moth·ers

verb

, transitive

a. To give birth to: mothered three children.

b. To be the source of; create or produce: “Necessity mothered the invention of printing”(Irving Wallace).

To act as mother to, as in nourishing and protecting.

verb

, intransitive

To act or serve as a mother.

Origin of mother

Middle English moder, mother, from Old English m&omacron;dor; see mater- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 10, translation of Iraqi Arabic 'umm. N., sense 11, short for motherfucker.

noun

A stringy slime composed of yeast cells and bacteria that forms on the surface of fermenting liquids and is added to wine or cider to start the production of vinegar.

Origin of mother

Probably alteration (influenced by mother1) of obsolete Dutch moeder, from Middle Dutch, probably from moeder, mother of children; see mater- in Indo-European roots.

mother

matriarchy
a system of social order wherein final authority is vested in the mother or eldest female and in which descent is reckoned in the female line. —matriarchal, adj.matricentric
tending to move toward or centering upon the mother.
matricide1. the killing of one’s mother.
2. one who has killed his mother. —matricidal, adj.matriliny
tracing of descent through the mother’s side of a family. —matrilinear, adj.momism
an excessive attachment and devotion of children to their mothers, resulting in a child’s dependence and failure to achieve emotional emancipation.

mother

Noun

(plural mothers)

A (human) female who (a) parents a child (b) gives birth to a baby (c) donates a fertilized egg or (d) donates a body cell which has resulted in a clone. Sometimes used in reference to a pregnant female, possibly as a shortened form of mother-to-be (c).

(a) I am visiting my mother today.

(b) My sister-in-law has just become a mother.

(c) Nutrients and oxygen obtained by the mother are conveyed to the fetus.

1991, Susan Faludi, The Undeclared War Against American Women

The antiabortion iconography in the last decade featured the fetus but never the mother.

A film or membrane which is developed on the surface of fermented alcoholic liquids, such as vinegar, wine, etc., and acts as a means of conveying the oxygen of the air to the alcohol and other combustible principles of the liquid, thus leading to their oxidation.